Food Safety

The Department plays an important role in the safety of food. From produce to meat to dairy to eggs, state inspectors are on the job making sure that the food supply is safe. Inspections and visits depend on which type of food is produced. For instance, when meat is processed someone must be on site before the processing begins to make sure the facility is clean and employees follow cleanliness processes; state staff is there all the time the meat is processed checking the meat for potential health dangers and watching that the people are following a health safety plan; and after the processing is complete, state inspectors are checking to make sure the plant staff clean and sanitize the facility.

This is just one example of how the Department makes sure the state's food supply is safe to eat. There are more processes such the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) for produce and regular inspections for dairy and egg.